Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-12-21
From the Detroit Free Press.
MISER JOHN.

will )" he softly chuckled as he rubbed
his hands together. 81 lent him the
money, and ne can't pay 1t back, and
why shouldn't / take his house and
lot? I'll take g. walk up that way.
They needn't call me an old miser,
and say Pm hard-hearted. It's g.
straight matter of business. lend
money on a mortgage; if the money
isn't repaid Pm entitled to the secur-
ity. That's straight business the
world over"
1t was "Old John White,' as every
man, woman and child in the town
called him. When they didn't refer to
him by that name it was to speak of
him as "Miser John" 'tStingy White, :"
or "Mean John" Men had tried to
recall one kind or liberal act on bis
part, but in vain. Women had sought
to find excuses for his selfshnees and
avarice, but it was hard thing to do.
lie he had ever been married-if wife or
child had ever shared his lot no one
could remember it. He lived alone
selfish, penurious and friendless. No
man entered his gate unless In fran-
cial distress and driven to put himself
In the NAV ofthe shark. No child ever
halted for an instant in front of the
grim, tumble-down building Miser
John called home.
It was almost Christmas time. The
winter winds were like the teeth of
wolves, and now and then the light
snow was caught up and whlrled over
street ana housetop ID spiteful way.
The rich shivered as they stepped from
their doors; the poor suffered even as
they remained within.
Miser John left his cherries home
for a, walk of q mile. and as the winds
took hold of him he fairly gasped for
breath. His garments were old and
thin and worn, but he had planned
that they must do him for the winter.
at isn't so very cold,' he said to
himself as he hurried along. Gail this
talk about the poor suffering SO much
is nonsense. Let'em move around
and keep their blood circulating and
they will be warm enough"
He held mortgage on the little
home of Clark, the mechanic. Death
had entered the mans family sick
ness had come-a great factory had
shut down and left scores of men
without work or wages. There was
interest due as well as principal, and
the day had come when thelaw would
permit Miser John to commence pro-
ceedings OF foreclosure. He was not
the man to delay an hour. The mis-
fortunes of others were nothing to
him. If ne owed g. debt ne had TO
pay it; if others owed him it would go
hard but what he would have the
amount.
"I'll just pass the house-so fly pass
by % he whispered as he came near it.
There ought to be half an acre
Of ground there, and I want every
inch of it. And I want Clark to leave
the house in good repair, and to be
out as soon as possible. Pm not TO
blame that his boy died, nor for his
sickness, nor for his trouble at the
factory. People who borrow money
must pay it back"
It was lamplighG rs he passed in
front Of the house. It was q better
building than he had hoped for, and
the land seemed to be all there to the
last inch. Miser John was softly rub
bing his hands when he noticed an OBJ
lect leaning on the fence a few yards
away. It did not seem solid enough
for human being, and yet what could
cast q, shadow in the gloom of even
ing in such 8. place?
sit may be arobber!" he whispered.
mo one has ever tried to rob me yet,
but the time may have come. Peo-
pie hate me and would be glad to see
me lose my last shilling. John White
would get no sympathy here. Sup
pose it is an assassin! / declare if it
didn't move then I'll 60 home.
Clark may burn the house down to
spite me, but if he does I'll send him
10 state prison If it costs me $500"
As he moved away on his route
home the something followed after.
He made run across the darksome
commons. It kept its distance. He
slowed up as ne reached a frequented
street. It was no nearer to him-no
farther away. Under the gaslight it
disappeared entirely, but as he en-
tered upon his own dark street, 10 !!
the something was nearer to him than
before. He heard no footsteps on the
walk except his own. There was no word
or rustic of garments as they entered
the gate side by side and passed to
the door. There was no presence beside
you UuCAC w c1cs IL w 61o AOOA1LlSS
and yet it was q something. He was
awed and frightened, but at the door
he turned at bay and struck out furi-
ously an1 shouted:
"Back Go away You may be-
lieve me old and helpless, but I'll crap.
pie with the strongest man and fight
TO the death ~
He struck only the empty air,
though the shadow was at his elbow.
It took the key from his hand, un-
locked the door, and he was forced to
enter first. AS he stood in the dark
ness of the room he heard the key
turn in the lock again. The some
thing was locked In with him
'It's only some trick to scare mep'
he whispered; cor else my long walk
in the cold has made me nervous and
near-sighted. AS soon as [ strike a
light it will be gone"
4 candle soon shed it's light over the
room, and the old man threw some
fagots on the fire which was nearly
dead on the hearth.